Cabana Club Hearing Delayed Again

The Cabana Club hearing scheduled for January 26th (rescheduled from December 15th) has been postposed. A new date has not been set.

Cabana Club Hearing Rescheduled

A hearing concerning the building of the Cabana Club on Sand Key scheduled for December 15 was postponed and will now take place in January. Save Our Neighborhood (SON), a community action group formed to fight the building of the new Cabana Club, appealed a decision of the Clearwater Planning Department to allow building code derivations that would permit construction of the $25-million Cabana Club as a proposed 38-room high-end hotel resort at 1590 Gulf Boulevard which would be operated in conjunction with the Belleair Biltmore Hotel scheduled for a $125 million upgrade.

SON gained the support of The Clearwater Beach Association (CBA) and the Sand Key Civic Association (SKCA) and received donations from the groups for its legal battle against Legg Mason, owners of the Belleview Biltmore. SON representatives and Sand Key residents oppose the project because they feel it is not in keeping with the residential character of the neighborhood and would diminish the views of properties adjacent to the site and would create traffic and parking problems.

They oppose the Planning Commission's September 16 approval of code deviations that includes a reduction to the required lot width; a reduction to setbacks; allowance of proposed temporary cabanas and an increase to building height; a reduction to perimeter buffers and a reduction to the width of interior landscape islands. SON has opposed the granting of code variances except for safety or ecological reasons citing a reduction in quality of life and the environment that results from such variances.

Cabana Club Apellate Court Decision Delayed

The December 15th hearing was cancelled due to the judge being sick. It is expected to be rescheduled for next month.

Some residents were hoping for the judge to overturn a Community Development Board ruling allowing the Belleview Biltmore Hotel LLC and its owner, Legg Mason Real Estate Investors to build a hotel and restaurant at the Cabana Club on Sand Key.

Cabana Club Plans Approved

The Clearwater Community Development Board unanimously approved plans to redevelop the Cabana Club on Sand Key. The Cabana Club property, which will be an annex for the Belleview Biltmore in Belleair, will include a six-story, 38-room Victorian-style boutique hotel and a new 4,981-square-foot restaurant. New Florida-friendly landscaping will be installed throughout the site.

Planning Commission Meeting Rescheduled

The Clearwater Planning Commission meeting scheduled for August 19th to review the Cabana Club project has been postponed until September 16. A staff report was released indicating the proposed code deviations be granted with certain conditions. The complete report is available from the Clearwater City Planning Department.

On Tuesday, August 19th the Planning Commission will consider code deviation requests and review opposition to the project by Sand Key residents.

Legg Mason Real Estate Investors, Inc. purchased the Biltmore properties in 2007. The Cabana Club is the "beach resort" for the Belleview Biltmore. Renovation plans include a 1.5 mile ferry ride to shuttle guests to the club where they could enjoy the white sand, pool, and cabanas. Renovation of the club is expected to take 16 months.

Local residents oppose the project, claiming the area is not meant for commercial development and that the plans violate building codes. Also of concern is obstruction of thier gulf views and parking issues.

One variance they are requesting is a setback reduction along Gulf Boulevard. An increase in height of 25 feet to 67 feet is also being requested. 2 properties at 1350 and 1370 Gulf Boulevard have received variances to 80 feet within the past three years.

Cabana Club Variance Rejected

Legg Mason, owner of the Belleview Biltmore and the Cabana Club Grille presented a redevelopement plan for the Cabana Club Grille that would demolish the current builiding and construct a 38 room hotel and restaurant. After reviewing the proposal and taking questions from citizens, the Sand Key Civic Association has rejected a variance request that would raise the 25ft height variance to 65 ft.

Sand Key Residents Concerned Over Cabana Club Plans

While the rebuilding of the aging Cabana Club is a welcome change to residents, some condo owners are concerned about their view. Most noteably, the owners of the Cabana Club condos. There are 2 condo buildings with 90 units on the property. The proposed hotel building would be constructed to the south, where there is currently a pool and parking lot. Most of the condo owners have givine approval of the projcect, but some fear the new 6 story building will obstruct their view. Back in 2000 a 13 story building was proposed and met with much oposition.

The Cabana Club is owned by the Belleview Biltmore hotel, and serves as a beach club for hotel guests, providing a beachfront pool, and gulf front dining at the Cabana Grill restaurant. The structure was deemed unsafe by officials back in 1998. Repairs were done in order to stay open, but it was only a matter of time before a major overhaul would occur. The redevelopment is part of the larger historic preservation of the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Belleair.

Cabana Club May Be Redeveloped - New Hotel Added

Owners of the Belleview Biltmore have filed for redevelopment with the city of Clearwater for the Cabana Club in Sand Key. The Cabana Club is the "beach club" for Belleview Biltmore hotel guests, providing them with a beach, pool, and dining. The two properties are directly accross bay from each other.

The redevlopment would be part of the larger historic preservation of the Belleview Biltmore hotel on the Belleair side of the bay. The current property includes a pool, parking lot, restaurant and 2 condo builidings. Planned changes include demolishing the existing restaurant and replacing it with a new one one story shorter. A 6 story 38 room Victorian boutique hotel with underbuilding parking will be added on the south south side of the existing condos. In addition to the existing shuttle service that transports guests betweent properties, a water taxi would be added (the Biltmore is directly accrss the bay from the Cabana Club), as well as beach cabanas.

Sand Key's Cabana Club To Be Demolished

The historic Belleview Biltmore in Belleair was recently aquired by new owners and as part it's resoration, the Cabana Club on Sand Key will be demolished. The Cabana Club is the Biltmore's beach club with a restaurant, bar, and pool. In it's place an 8 story 57 unit hotel will be built with a new pool and cabanas. There may also be a seafood resturant on the 2nd floor. There are plans for a shuttle boat to take guests back and forth across the Intracoastal Waterway, as was the case in the Biltmore's glory days.